Split-phase motor reversing circuit



8, 1949. c. E. WEINLAND 2,459,479

SPLIT-PHASE MOTOR REVERSING CIRCUIT Filed Sept; 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CZar'enceEI lHnZand,

JTTODNZY V Patented Jan. 18, 1949 2,459,479 SPLIT-PHASE MOTOR REVERSIN G CIRCUIT Clarence E. Weinland, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to General Tire and Rubber Company of California, Pasadena, Calif., a corporation of Califorma Application September 27, 1946,

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to reversing circuit means for electric motors of the so-called splitphase type, and pertains particularly to revers ing circuit means which may be incorporated externally of the motor without requiring modification of the motor itself.

One of the particular objects of this invention is to provide a simple and effective reversing circuit mechanism which may readily be incorporated in the leads to a split-phase motor, and which will serve to eiiect reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor by operation of a simple manual or other type of reversing switch, being effective to secure the desired change in direction of rotation independent of the operating speed of the motor at the moment the switch is operated.

It is well known that the split-phase motor is one of the oldest types of single phase motors employed for commercial use, and is usually employed only where constant direction of rotation is desired in view of the fact that the reversal connection must be effected when the motor is stopped or running at a sub-operative speed. This results from the fact that the split-phase motor comprises essentially a single-phase induction motor equipped with auxiliary or starting winding displaced in magnetic position from and connected in parallel with the main or runiing winding and in the usual case the auxiliary or starting winding is caused to be automatically disconnected for operation of the motor at normal running speed. Mere reversal of the current to the main or running winding, when the motor is operating at normal speed, will not cause the motor to reverse. In order to reverse the direction of rotation, it is necessary to de-energize the main winding of the motor and allow the motor to slow down to a speed such that the auxiliary winding in parallel with the main winding is re-connected before the reversal may be effected. This difficulty in securing positive rcversal of a split-phase motor, of both the resistance-start type, the reactor-start type, and the capacitor-start type, has been in the past ov -:Come by remodeling the switching mechanism which is employed to de-energize the starting winding, but inasmuch as this switching mechanism is normally built within the motor housing it has been necessary to remodel the motor as a whole in order to convert it to a truly reversible motor. This type of remodeling has materially increased the cost of obtaining a reversible motor of the split-phase type, which has resulted Serial No. 699,67 6

2 in decreased use of this otherwise very desirable type of motor.

According to the present invention, the reversing circuit is established externally of the splitphase motor and includes one or more relay members which are responsive to energization by a conventional reversing switch so long as the motor switch which controls connection of the starting winding remains closed and thereby efiects energization of both the starting and running windings of the motor, the relay means being adapted to maintain connection to the running windingof the motor so longas the main operating switch remains in closed position independent of the opening of the starting winding switch as the motor is brought up to operating or running speed, while operative to disconnect the energization of the running winding during the momentary disconnection provided at the reing the running winding out of energized condition so long as the switch associated with the starting winding remains open due to rotation of the motor.

iChe above and other features of this invention will be brought out in the ensuing description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, or will be apparent therefrom. Referring to the drawings, illustrating the above-mentioned embodimerits:

Fig. l is a schematic representation of a reversing circuit for a split-phase motor, employing a single relay;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing a circuit employing two relays, both of which remain in operation so long as the motor is energized;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding .to Figs. 1 and 2, showing a two relay .circuit in which one of the relays is adapted to drop out of the circuit after the circuit operation has been initiated, the other relay remaining operative so long as the motor is energized; and

Fig. 4 is a modified form enerally to that of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the reversing circuit of this invention may comprise a motor iA adapted to be connected to line leads 2 and 3 through the agency of a relay R1 and associated wiring. Associated with the relay R1 I provide a of circuit, conforming pair of contacts :la and to constituting 2. norwhich contacts is conleads such as the lead 2 connected through lead mally open pair, one of nested to one of the line and the other contact is 6 to one side of the running winding 1 of the motor lA then through lead 8 to a three-pole double throw pole-changing switch, as to the upper left contact 9 of the switch shown at MA. I have shown a limit switch H in the lead 8, as well as a limit switch l2 in a branch lead it leading to the lower left contact ill of the switch IGA, which limit switches H and i2 are adapted to break the circuit to the running winding in the event the device operated by the motor IA reaches allowable limits of travel in the respective directions of rotation, the switch ll being operative in the rotative direction established when the polechanging switch WA is connected to the upper set of contacts, and the limit switch 12 being operative in the rotative direction established when the pole-changing switch WA is connected to the lower set of contacts. To provide the desired circuit return for the running winding '1 through the switch lllA, the center left contact I5 is connected to line lead 3.

For energization of the starting winding, I run a branch lead 16 from line lead 2 to the center contact 5 or" the switch WA, and from the upper center contact ll of the switch IDA I run a lead 3 to one end of the starting winding l9 thence through a centrifugal or other type of switch '20 operable to open and closed positions in response to the speed or other operative condition of operation of the motor IA, thence through lead 2i through a pair of normally open contacts 22a, 2% associated with the relay R1, thence back to the other side of the switch Illa through lead 23 connecting to the upper right contact 24 connectable to the right center contact 25 of the switch thence through lead 26 to the branch lead 13, from which the return connection to the line lead 3 is had through the limit switch H and contacts 9 and i5. Energization of the relay R1 is provided through a lead 21 connected to the lead 23 thence to actuating coil 28 of the relay R1 thence through a pair of normally closed contacts 29a, 26b to the lead 2!, placing the actuating coil 28 in series with the starting winding l9 through switch 20 as the switch WA is closed to start operation of the motor IA. Associated with the relay R1 I provide a set of normally open contacts Silo and 3% which cooperate with the contacts 29a and 29b in a make-before-break system, so that the contacts 30a and 3% will close momentarily ahead of the opening of the contacts 29a and 291) when the coil 28 of relay R1 is energized. Upon closing of the contacts 30a and 301), which are connected through the coil 28 to the lead 23- on the one side and the lead 3| on the other side which connects to the switch side of the starting winding l9. This latter connection, i. e., when the contacts 39a and 3% are closed and the contacts 29a and 29?) are open, places the relay coil 28 in parallel with the starting winding l9 so that it will remain operative after the switch 20 operates to disconnect the starting winding i9 for the motor IA, which happens when the motor iA has come up to the desired speed called for by the design of the motor IA, i. e. when it has come up close to running condition. The contacts 3?; and 33 of the pole-changing switch lllA are cross-connected respectively to contacts 2i and H, wherefore operation of the switch WA to connect the lower contacts M, 32 and 33 will result in reversed polarity on the starting winding l9 while maintaining the same polarity of connection through the contacts ta-Ab to the running winding 1, as will be apparent. The operation of the circuit shown in Fig. l is as follows: Assuming the switch 10A to be closed to connect the line leads to the upper set of contacts 3, El and 2d, and assuming the motor IA to be in rest condition, in which condition the switch 2! will be closed, the coil 28 of the relay R1 will be energized by virtue of connection from line lead 2 through lead It to contact 5 then to contact l! and through lead iii to the starting winding l9 through switch 29, lead ill to the contacts Mic-29b, thence through the coil 28, lead 21 to lead 23 thence to contact 24, contact 25, cross-lead 26, branch lead '53, through limit switch it to contact 9, thence to contact l5 and line lead 3. Energization of the actuating coil 28 of the relay will pull in the movable contacts do, 221) and 3% associated therewith. Closure of the contacts lm-db will energize the running winding '1 and the motor EA will start immediatel upon contacts Zia-22b being closed, which latter contacts will place the starting winding !9 directly across the line. The movable contact 3912 is intended to engage the relatively fixed contact Mia and then immediately thereafter the contacts 29a-29b will be open, causing the coil 28 of the relay R1 to be placed in parallel with the starting winding l9. When the motor iA comes up to speed such as to operate the switch 20, the starting winding 99 will be disconnected and the motor then run on the running winding 'i', operation of the switch 26 causing no change in the relay R1. However, since the switch 20 is connected in the circuit between the starting winding it and the lead 2i connected to the actuating coil 28, it will be seen that operation of switch lid to open position opens a circuit connection between said starting winding and said actuating coil and maintains such circuit connection open as long as the switch 20 remains open.

When it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor Hi the reversing switch IUA is moved from its up-connection position to its down-connection position, and the momentary disconnection of the switch in moving from up to down position will interrupt the supply of current to the coil 28, allowing the contact system connected therewith to return to the position shown at Fig. 1, which again places the coil 28 of the relay R1 in series with the starting winding l9 and switch 2B. In this condition, the switch 20 being open as a result of continued rotation of the motor Hi, the relay R1 does not operate and no energization of the motor is effected. As soon as the motor slows down to a running condition such as to cause the switch 28 to close, the cycle of operation above recited is again effected, but owing to the reverse polarity connection provided for the starting winding l9 the motor will promptly reverse.

In the circuit shown in Fig. 2, the motor IB is provided with a pair or" relays R2 and R3 and a starting circuit which is associated with a polechanging switch HEB. Line leads 2a and 3a are shown, corresponding to the line leads 2 and 3 above, the relay R: being provided with a pair of contacts 20. and 52b connected at one side to one of the line leads such as the line lead 2a and at the other side through lead 53 to the running winding M then through lead 45 through limit switch 56 to contact 41, corresponding to the contact 9 of the first form, a branch lead 48 corresponding to the branch lead it, and a limit switch 49 connected to the opposite contact 50 of the switch IUB. The left center contact 51 of the switch EBB is connected to the other line lead such as the line lead 3a, through lead 52. Connection for the starting winding 53 is provided by branch lead 54 running from line lead 2a to the center contact 55 of the switch [B, whereby the conventional cross-over provided by'the polechanging switch IllB may cause this side of the line to be connected to either side of the winding 53. For example, the center upper contact 56 of the switch [0B is connected through lead 51 to the starting winding 53, the circuit proceeding through the motor switch 58, lead 59 to the movable contact of a normally closed contact pair Gila-450b, thence through lead 6! to the actuating coil 68 of relay R2 thence through connector 62 to lead '63 connected to the upper right contact 54 of switch NB, the right center contact 65 of switch 10B connecting through lead 65 connecting with branch lead 48. The relay R2 is provided with two pairs of normally open contacts 34a-34b, and 35a-35b, The contact pair 35a-35b is connected on one side through lead 65 to the lead 51 and thence to the power sup ply, and on the other side through lead 6'! to the coil 4! of relay Rs thence through lead 68 to lead -63 which is connected to the opposite side of the power supply. The lead 53 is also connected to one side of a normally open pair of contacts 69a-69b associated with the relay R3, the other side of contacts Silo-J32) being connected with the contact Elle of the pair Gum-58b, thence to conductor 59 leading to the starting winding 53, thence through lead 5! to the switch HJB.

With the connections as shown and motor iB in rest position, the switch 58 being closed, rotation of the motor IB in one direction is attained by closing switch NIB, as to the upper set of contacts 47, '56, 64. Upon closing the switch in this fashion, the lead. 57 is connected to the line lead 2a and the lead 63 is connected to line lead 3a, the circuit for the coil -40 of relay R2 being complete from 56 through lead 51 to winding '53, to switch 58, lead 59 to contacts 60a60b (normally closed) thence through lead 5! to ac tuating coil 49 thence through lead 52 to lead 63 connected to contact 64. Upon closing of the switch 103, as above described, current is then impressed upon the actuating coil 40 which is connected in series with the starting winding 53 through. switch 58, causing the contacts 34a 34b and 35a-35b to close. Closure of contacts 3406- 341) connects the return side of coil 40 to leads 65 and 57 placing this .coil in parallel. with the current suppl to the starting winding 53. Closing of the contacts 35a-35b connects coil 41 of relay'Rs across the line leads 5?! and 53, through 65, 3511-3512, 5?, H, .58 and 63, placing this coil 4! in parallel with the current supply to the starting winding 53. Ener ization of thecoil ti closes the contacts 6a-59b and Mar-42b, and opens contacts Ema-63b. Closing of the contacts G9a-69b energizes the starting winding 53 through 63, Gila-59b, 59, 58, 53 and 5?. Opening of contacts 60a-5llb will break the R3 return circuit for relay R2, but this coil remains energized through 34t34b, and relay E3 holds in the circuit by reason of coil '41 being parallel connected across the lead 635l through contacts -35c- 35b. Closing the contacts 4251-522) energizes the run ning winding 44 by connecting the return lead for this coil to line lead 2a, When the motor EB comes up to a speed such as to cause the switch 58 to operate to open position, the starting winding 53 is disconnected and the motor iB runs on the running winding 44. However, since the switch 58 is connected in the circuit between ation of the motor starting winding 53 and actuating coil 60 of relay R2, operation of said switch to open position opens a circuit connection between said starting winding and said actuating coil and maintains .such circuit connection open as long as said switch remains open.

In the event that the switch HEB is operated to reverse the direction of the motor 13, the momentary disconnection of the switch MB in shifting from the up position shown :in Fig. .2 to the down position will interrupt the suppl of current to relay R2, which releases R3, disconnecting the running winding 44 by Opening the contacts Mir-4%. The continued high-speed oper- 112 after it is disconnected and until it slows down to the point the switch 53 is again closed takes place while the contacts 69a and 59b remain open, so that no current supply will be available to the starting winding 53 or the running winding 54 until the switch 58 is closed, at which time operation of the relay R2 and the subequent operation of the relay R3 will take place, energizing the running winding 44 in the same polarity as in the first instance and applying a reverse polarity connection to the starting winding 53, causing the motor to be reversed. The lower center and lower right contacts iii and H of the switch iflB are crossconnected to the contacts .56 and 64, as described above in connection with t .e contacts 32-33 for the switch 19A, efiecting a reversal of polarity connections to the leads 57 and 63 so that the desired reversed connection of the starting winch ing is obtained.

The circuit shown in 3 provides two relays R4 and R5 for a split-phase motor !C under control of a pole-changing switch MIC. The upper relay R4 is provided with an actuating coil having a normally open pair of contacts l5c l,5b, the coil 15 being normailyin series with the switch 76 for the motor :0 and the starting winding 11, while the relay its is provided with a coil 18 and three sets of normally open contacts 7Qo79b, Ma -b, and 8iaiiib. lead 32 is provided, connected to one of the supply leads for the winding '17 and connectable through switch NC to either of the two line leads 2?) and 3b correspending to the line leads 2 and .3 in the first form of the invention. The opposite polarity side of the switch :50 is connected through lead 33 to one side of each .of the coils l5 and 18, the coil '15 being returned through the switch 76 and starting winding Ti and the other side of the coil '58 being returned through lead .8 1 thence through contacts "l5c-15h to lead 82 connected to the supply side of the winding 1?, contacts 79a-lb being in parallel with contacts Hit-'55. The contact pair 8|a-8lb is adapted to provide 7 connection through leads 8.! and 88 from the line lead 27) to the running winding 83, the return lead for the running winding 39 being provided as at 99 to the contact 9! of the switch lflC corresponding to the contacts 9 and 5? above, from which the circuit connection to the line lead 3b is had through the switch arm and connector 92. A limit switch network 93 may beiprovided corresponding to that shown .in the first-described forms of the invention.

With the motor [C in rest position, with starting circuit switch I6 closed, the actuating coil 15 of relay1R4 is in series with the starting winding 11 through switch .16 and upon closing the switch IOC this coil will be energized, closing contacts 75a'l5b. Closing of these contacts will provide a return circuit for the coil 18 of relay Rs, causing the contacts 19w-19b, 8011-8027 and BIa-Blb to close. Upon closure contacts Wt-49a act as holding contacts for coil 18, being connected in parallel across the line leads to the starting winding 11, and cause the relay R to be closed so long as the switch IElC remains closed. Closure of the contacts 8Da-89b will close the starting winding circuit and will shunt the coil of relay R4 causing this relay to open. Closing of the contacts 8Ia-8Ib will energize the running winding 89. When the motor IC has come up to a speed such as to cause the switch 16 to open, no change will be had in the setting of relay R5, it being continuously energized by the supply line connection. In this case also, the operation of switch 16 to open position opens a circuit connection between starting winding 11 and actuating coil 15 of relay R4 and maintains such circuit connection open as long as said switch remains open. In the event it is desired to reverse the direction of operation of the motor IC, the momentary opening of the switch IllC in the reversing operation will interrupt the supply of current to coil 18, and reconnection ofthe current supply to coil I5 will not be had until the motor i0 is slowed down sufficiently to cause the switch it to close, on which occasion the starting winding ll will be connected across the line in opposite polarity of that obtained in the first instance, while the running coil 89 of the motor is connected in its original polarity, thus causing the motor to begin to operate in reverse direction.

Fig. l illustrates a circuit comparable to that shown in Fig. 1, wherein a split-phase motor Ii! is under control of a reversing switch IUD and a starting circuit including a relay Re. The relay Re is provided with contact pairs 9B, 5!, 92 and 93 corresponding respectively to the contacts 28a 29b, 3ila-30b, 22a-22b, and id- H) of Fig. 1, for control of the starting winding 94 having a switch 95, and the running winding 96. Said relay is also provided with an actuating coil 91 which corresponds to coil 28 in Fig. 1 and which is similarly connected to corresponding contacts of the relay and to starting winding 94 through switch 95. The motor and Rs circuit is connected to the switch IUD (shown as a four-pole, double-throw switch together with a limit-switch network L1- L2) in such manner that operation of the switch will effect reversal of current in the running winding 96 with respect to that in the starting winding 94.

The above-described circuits show the provision of limit switches, as at II and I2, 46 and 49, etc., but it will be appreciated that in installations where no limit switches are required to control the extent of movement of the means operated by the split-phase motor under control, it is a relatively simple matter to convert the circuits to eliminate such limit switches. For example, referring to the circuit shown in Fig. 1, the contacts 9, I4 and I5 of the switch IDA may be eliminated, together with the limit switches l I and i2 and their connecting leads, and the lead 2% caused to be connected to the line lead 3 at the position of the cross-over designated by the dot-dash arrow 98. The pole-changing switch employed at IDA then becomes a conventional two-pole doublethrow reversing switch. Other modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art, and I do not choose to be limited to the specific details and wiring arrangements shown in the present specification, but rather to the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a reversing circuit'means for a so-called split-phase motor having a starting winding and a running winding together with a switch member operable to open position to disconnect the starting winding when the motor has attained a predetermined running condition, and polechanging switch means; circuit means including relay means having an actuating coil electrically connected to said switch member and adapted to cause energization of said starting and running windings upon closing said switch means when said switch member is closed; and contact means associated with said relay means and adapted upon operation of said relay means to retain energization of said running winding independent of said switch member so long as said switch means remains closed; said actuating coil being connected to said starting winding through said switch member whereby operation of said switch member to open position opens a circuit connection between said actuating coil and said starting winding when said motor has attained said predetermined running condition.

2. A reversing circuit means for a so-called split-phase motor having a starting winding and a running winding together with a switch member operable to open position to disconnect the starting winding when the motor has attained a predetermined running condition, which comprises: pole-changing switch means; circuit means including relay means having an actuating coil electrically connected to said switch member and adapted to be energized upon closing said switch means only when said switch member is in closed position; and contact means responsive to the operation of said relay means and adapted to effect separate energization oi said starting and running windings, and to maintain energization of said running winding independent of disconnection of said starting winding as a result of operation of said switch member to open position so long as said switch means remains closed; said actuating coil being connected to said starting winding through said switch member whereby operation of said switch member to open position opens a circuit connection between said actuating coil and said starting winding when said motor has attained said predetermined running condition.

3. A reversing circuit means for a so-called split-phase motor having a starting winding and a running winding together with a switch member adapted to disconnect the starting winding when the motor has attained a predetermined running condition, which comprises: pole-changing switch means; circuit means including relay means provided with first contact means normally closed to establish series connection of said relay means with said starting winding and said switch member and adapted to efiect energization and operation of said relay means upon closing said switch means when said switch member is in closed condition, second contact means for said relay means adapted to connect said relay means in parallel with said starting winding and to disconnect said first contact means upon operation of said relay means, third contact means for said relay means adapted to energize said starting winding upon operation of said relay means, and fourth contact means for said relay means adapted to energize said running winding upon operation of said relay means, said pole-changing switch means and said circuit means being adapted for alternative connection of one of said winding to opposite polarity conditions relative to the polarity of the other of said windings.

ergize said second relay means and to connect said first relay means in parallel with said starting winding whereby said first relay means remains energized so long as current supply to said motor running winding.

CLARENCE E. WEINLAND. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of file of this patent:

record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,320,176 Dunham et a1. May 25, 1943 

